Saturday, November 29, 2008

Pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services. Then check the rest of the website for their responses.

How amazing it would be if we could get everyone we know to send one! It is free and it only takes a second.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if the soldiers received a bunch of these? Whether you are for or against the war, our soldiers over there need to know we are behind them. This takes just 10 seconds and it's a wonderful way to say thank you. Please take the time and please take the time to pass it on for others to do.

Friday, November 28, 2008

Amongst the many awards available for those reaching the level of either Eagle Scout (boys) or Gold Award (Girls) there are a number of cool awards presented by our nation's Armed Forces. (Marine Corps, Sons of the American Revolution, United States Army and United States Navy)

I hope, as a past Eagle and military veteran myself, that some of you may want to explore these National Recognition Awards.

Operation Gratitude is facing its most challenging year since its inception in 2003. Right now, 75% of the 70,000 Care Packages we will assemble for our troops will not reach them without your help.

While our Corporate Product Donors have generously provided all the items we need for our care packages, our financial donations have dwindled to a trickle. Yet, our shipping expenses are higher than ever before at $9.30 for postage alone and more than $10 per package overall.

All donated funds are used for production and shipping expenses.

We do not expend funds on overhead, fundraising campaigns, direct mail or advertising.

We take no salaries. Every dollar donated directly supports our troops.

Operation Gratitude sends a care package personally addressed to every deployed service member whose name we receive.

We send 100,000 - 120,000 packages per year, which requires a cash budget of $1.2 Million/year.

This Holiday Drive, we will assemble 70,000 care packages.

Right now, we only have the funds to ship one-quarter of them.

"We had a tip from an Iraqi child that we gave one of your beanie babies to, who let us know that bad people were making bombs in his neighborhood. The information he gave us led to a major terrorist cell being captured and countless lives being saved. You may not realize this, but we utilize everything you send - we do not waste a thing. Thanks again for what you do." -Captain D.A., US Air Force

Nothing would be sadder than to have more than 50,000 fabulously full and completed care packages still sitting in our warehouse on Christmas Day. Fifty thousand Care Packages lovingly assembled by our dedicated volunteers that could not be shipped to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan solely because we did not have the funds for postage.

We need your help to raise $500,000.00 this month to ship the care packages in time for the Holidays.

$10 will send another package$100 will let 10 service members know you are thinking of them$500 will tell 50 troops in harm's way that you care.

If you can afford even more, you can touch the hearts and say "Thank You" to even more of our nation's finest. All donations to Operation Gratitude are tax deductible.

Donations can be made by Credit Card through the Operation Gratitude website or by check payable to Operation Gratitude and mailed to:

Operation Gratitude16444 Refugio RoadEncino, CA 91436

We know budgets are limited this year--we are not asking you to spend more than you planned, but perhaps you can take $10 from each designated gift and send that to a Service member in honor of your friend or family member. We will send your loved one a beautiful tribute letter telling them about your thoughtful gift in their honor--letting them know that they too just sent a package of love to a Soldier or Marine on a battle field.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

If you have an interest in serving on a Cub Day Camp Staff and would like to receive training, the 2009 Cub Day Camp School Schedule is out. This year we are fortunate to have one of the Camp Schools at Camp Josepho, February 27 - March 1, 2009. Camp School Certifications are good for 5 years!

All completed registrations must be turned into Christine Demmitt no later than January 9, 2009. All registrations must be approved by the Council.

In the late 1980s, Los Angeles development trends extended into the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley when Dale Poe Development bought the historic San Emigdio Ranch. During the downturn in development in the mid-1990s, the property was put up for sale to avoid bank foreclosure. The Wildlands Conservancy purchased more than 93,000 acres to create the largest nonprofit preserve on the West Coast. Acquisition of adjacent lands has increased the preserve to more than 97,000 acres.

The preserve is an ecologically unique region where the Transverse Ranges, Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, western Mojave Desert and San Joaquin Valley converge. Due to this singular geographic location and an elevation range from 640 to 6,005 feet, the preserve has an impressive array of landforms and habitats. The preserve is a critical landscape linkage and wildlife corridor between the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada.

Tule elk were reintroduced to Wind Wolves Preserve, the southernmost extension of their historic range. The elk herd has grown to more than 200 animals and the California Department of Fish and Game estimates the preserve can support up to 2,000 tule elk.

At 97,000 acres, Wind Wolves is the largest nonprofit preserve on the West Coast.

On the San Joaquin Valley floor, the preserve is a 30-square-mile veritable sea of grasslands with remnant stands of saltbush. These grasslands are home to the endangered San Joaquin kit fox and blunt-nosed leopard lizard, and one of the largest stands of the endangered Bakersfield cactus. Rolling grasslands rise from the valley floor and transition into classic California blue oak and valley oak savanna with extensive riparian wetlands. Pinyon-juniper woodland and chaparral can be found at medium and upper elevations along with pockets of big-cone spruce and ponderosa pine.

Through its spectacular and scenic beauty and rich diversity of life, Wind Wolves Preserve has the power to inspire people to preserve their natural and cultural heritage. At Wind Wolves, The Wildlands Conservancy offers free outdoor education programs in which over 100,000 children have participated. Programs focus on ecology, Native American life ways and local history, which complement the State’s science curriculum.

Wind Wolves Preserve is open to the public on weekends from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for hiking and picnicking. Camping hours are Friday 2:30 p.m. through Sunday 5:00 p.m. by advanced reservation only. For more information, call (661) 858-1115.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Toy collections have begun for children whose homes burned during the recent San Fernando Valley wildfires. Please bring new (or like-new) unwrapped gifts such as books, toys, dolls and sports equipment during business hours through Dec. 1. For more information call (818) 885-7655.

The Rogers Family Company - Operation Gratitude"Letters to Our Troops" contest is heading into its 3rd week and going strong! You still have time to enter and encourage everyone you know to write letters to our deployed service members for the holidays and at the same time earn fun prizes for yourselves and much-needed money for your favorite schools!

During our Holiday Drive, Operation Gratitude plans to send 70,000 care packages to troops deployed in combat zones overseas - we want to receive enough submissions from the contest to include at least one letter in every box. To meet this goal, we need everyone - students, parents, teachers, and all caring American citizens - to enter the contest and write letters. Students 12 years and under can write letters to be entered by their parents.

Rogers Family Company is offering 3 prize packages in a random drawing - all you need to do is enter! Win the Grand Prize and:

Your letter will be included in the 400,000th Operation Gratitude package

$2000 will be donated to the k-12 school of your choice

$250 gift certificate (good for a year's supply of Rogers Coffee) for you

To enter the contest, go here and click on the "Write a Letter" button. Upon registration and submission of your letter, you will be entered to win one of three prize packages, all of which include money for your chosen school and gift cards for you provided by the Rogers Family Company.

Write a letter, enter to win, and make a difference!

The impact of a personal letter is incalculable:

"My husband was stationed in Iraq and I signed him up for Operation Gratitude. While there he received a letter from a lady in New York. This letter touched him dearly. She had lost her son, an EMT, in 9-11. This letter still means a lot to him. My husband has suffered some physical and mental issues resulting from his service in Iraq. When he starts to feel regret from serving his Country and the strain it put on him and his family, he takes out that letter and it makes him feel better. One person and one letter can make a difference."

Help us reach our goal of 70,000 letters!

Share this with your family, friends and colleagues.

Teachers and parents: Tell every family in your school about this great opportunity to win $2000 for your school!

Share this with friends in your social networks like Facebook or MySpace.

The contest, designed and hosted by Strutta Media Inc., is open to all U.S. residents and runs through December 12, 2008. All appropriate letters submitted in the contest will be sent to service members via Operation Gratitude care packages.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

In response to recent fires in Southern California, AT&T is making available a number of services to support displaced customers.

AT&T is making voice mail, call forwarding services and installation of a phone line available free of charge for 30 days for displaced customers, as many fire victims find themselves without an established means for sending and receiving calls to family members, insurance agencies and other important contacts:

Remote Call Forwarding allows customers to dial in and direct normal home phone calls to another number from any phone.

Message Center allows users to retrieve messages left at their home phone line from any location as well leave a greeting telling callers their status.

Customers displaced by the fires can call 1-888-338-3291 Monday through Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. to set up the free phone services. Customers needing assistance should leave their contact information so an AT&T service representative can call them back within 24 hours.

"The necessity to communicate with family, friends and loved ones becomes even more vital during a crisis," said Melba Muscarolas, vice president and general manager, AT&T West. "The voice mail equipment is located inside the AT&T core network and facilities which are outside of the fire damaged area. With call forwarding, fire victims can direct incoming calls to their home to the telephone number of their choice to ensure they are receiving their phone calls."

Again, customers displaced from their homes by the fire can call AT&T at 1-888-338-3291 for information regarding these services.

Monday, November 17, 2008

The Palmer family from Pack 490 family lost everything in the Sylmar fire. I would be happy to be a contact for people who would like to help this family out. There is an 8 year old scout who needs size 12 shoes and size 8 clothes and his brother who is 4 years old who needs 4/5 clothes and size 2 shoes.

For more information on how to help, you may e-mail Bill Roberts. Thanks.

I just got back from the Sylmar Evacuation Center. They have had approx 400 fire victims sign in for assistance with about 40 people spending the night in the High School gymnasium this evening.

All donated supplies are being inventoried and distributed from Saint Didacus Church which is located a few blocks away.

At the church, I met several exceptional youth group volunteers who are manning the distribution center.

I asked everyone I talked to how we could best help those in need. Discussions with Red Cross volunteers, firemen, church volunteers, the Sylmar Neighborhood Council public relations coordinator, and a 90 year old woman who left her home in only her underwear, lead to the following needs list:

C. Donated Clothing and Shoes (remember many people escaped with only the clothing they were wearing at the time - some barefoot)

D. Blankets

E. Protective Face Mask (To use when going back to their houses)

I'm going to contact some manufactures and suppliers (e.g.. Johnson & Johnson, Colgate-Palmolive, Costco) to see if they will donate some of these products directly.

I also discussed with the youth group at St. Didacus the possibility of having their membership putting on a pot-luck-dinner this week end for the fire victims. The Salay family told me how much it meant to them when people brought them home cooked meals after their home was lost in the fire last month.

Let me know what ideas you have - I know that with our collective thoughts, we can do amazing things.

We are, once again, submitting information for possible distribution throughout your Districts, on our free Water Exploration Badge Program that is available to all youth groups.

Take the plunge, earn a badge… Overlooking Pyramid Lake off Interstate 5 in Gorman, California, is the California Department of Water Resources' premiere water information center "Vista del Lago." We are a non-profit water education resource center dedicated to educating the public about the role of water in our environment within California. We are excited to offer our water education and conservation badge program entitled "The Water Wise Kid H20 Exploration Badge Program." The goal of our program, through a guided tour, movies and interactive exhibits, is to create a greater awareness of water in our environment, and its contribution to the quality of our lives. The program takes approximately two hours to complete, including the questionnaire, that is done on the honor system.

Our program is free-of-charge to all youth groups with children 6 years or older. For more information on how your kids can earn a badge, please call (661) 294-0219. We are open daily 9 am to 5 pm, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Last year I sent you a letter regarding a soldier who planned to commit suicide on Christmas Day, but changed his mind when he received our Operation Gratitude care package on Christmas Eve. Please help us make sure that every deployed service member knows someone cares about him or her this holiday season. Your $10 donation could send the care package that saves a life.

Today I urge you to partner with us once again to serve the courageous members of the United States military, who risk life and limb to serve us. Your tax-deductible contribution during the holidays will allow us to put smiles on the faces of our bravest Americans during a very difficult time away from home and loved ones. They and we will be forever grateful.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

My name is Kristal Brown and I just overboarded (graduated 2008) Senior Girl Scout. I am writing to the Boy Scouts to ask them to help me take my Gold Award (Eagle Rank for Girl Scouts) Project to a new level. My Gold Award Project was to raise money to purchase special designed oxygen masks for pets and donate them to the local fire stations of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. There are 106 city fire stations that need the masks. I was able to raise enough money to purchase 50 masks.

Now technically my Gold Award Project is officially over, but I want to see it all the way through and exceed my Gold Award Goal and raise the remaining money for the other 53 masks. I don't know of any Gold Award Project that went beyond the Gold Award requirements, but it's a project I feel strongly about.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Due to last minute Military Operations, our plans for the next 4 days have changed. Please read this update carefully!

We will still hold the Recycling Event on Saturday, November 8 from 9 - 4 pm. The drop off will take place in the large lot to the east of the Armory (where we held the Yard Sale). We will accept Wish List Item Donation drop-offs in the lot as well.

17330 Victory Blvd.corner of Victory and Louise

There will be no volunteer work inside the Armory this Saturday or Sunday, November 8-9. We welcome volunteers to assist with the Recycle donations - we do need help with that!

The Armory will now be open this Monday and Tuesday, November 10-11 from 8 am to 4 pm (an hour earlier than usual). We need your help on these days!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Troop 911's Webelos Weekend is an adventure designed to introduce Webelos Scouts and their parents to the thrilling Scouting adventures ahead and to help them make the transition into Boy Scouting exciting. The weekend is filled with fun activities, intriguing demonstrations, and plenty of outdoor excitement. Our theme this year is Fishing and Fish & Wildlife Management.

Troop 911 is inviting all 1st and 2nd year Webelos to attend. Troop 911 is a boy-led troop. Unlike Cub Scouts, the boys make the decisions and provide the leadership. Adults are there to give advice and to assure safety. The Webelos Scouts will be assigned to Patrols for the weekend so that they can experience a model Boy Scout Troop campout led by experienced Boy Scouts. Parents will be given an orientation on Boy Scouting, have a relaxing weekend campout, and have a chance to meet many of Troop 911's adult leaders, while their Webelos participate in troop activities.

Nominations are now being sought, and will be accepted in writing only until December 15, 2008, for the Shofar Award of the National Jewish Committee on Scouting.

The National Jewish Committee on Scouting established the Shofar Award to recognize outstanding service by adults in the promotion of Scouting among Jewish youth. Just as the Shofar (Ram's Horn) calls people to the service of G-d, so the Shofar Award is a recognition of the individual who has answered the call to serve Jewish youth in Scouting.

All information and forms for the nomination are available online. (Please note that the Western Los Angeles County Council Jewish Committee on Scouting obtains and pays for the award. You will not need to send money with the application. )

Send your written nominations by US Mail for receipt by December 15, 2008 to:

After December 15, 2008, a committee comprised of Shofar Award recipients in Western Los Angeles County Council will meet and decide on the next class of Shofar Award recipients. After private letters of congratulations are sent to the awardees, the new recipients' names will be publicized. The awards will be presented at the recipient's synagogue or at an appropriate Scouting function.

We have put together a workshop for mentors, adult leaders wanting to become Eagle advisors, and parents that have sons that will become Eagle candidates. This class has a little something for every adult.

Sales event starts Friday, December 5, and ends Sunday, December 21, or until all our inventory is gone.

All weekdays 4 - 9 pm

Saturday 10 am - 9 pm

Sunday 12 - 5 pm

Large inventories of freshly cut Douglas and Noble Fir trees available in a large array of assorted shapes and sizes to choose from.

Tree prices vary depending on size and type purchased.

All stands and other various holiday accessories available are sold separately for an additional charge.

All holiday items for sale are competitively priced to match our local competitors and priced affordably to fit within everyone's budget.

Troop 2379 is a non-profit 501(3)c charitable organization. Part or all of your holiday purchases are tax-deductible on your 2008 income tax returns.

All sales event net proceeds are used for the sole benefit of Troop 2379's camping events and equipment requirement needs.

Troop 2379 is proudly sponsored by the Elks Lodge #2379, and would like to extend their sincere appreciation to everyone for their help and support in 2008 for their troop, and wish everyone a very safe and happy holiday season.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Great California ShakeOut Drill (Thursday, November 13, 2008): More than 3.4 million people in earthquake-endangered Southern California, including 1.8 million from Los Angeles County, are currently registered to participate. Register online.

Special Olympics Tri-Valley Bowl-A-Thon and raffle (Saturday, November 15, 2008, 10 am - 12 pm and 1 - 3 pm): AMF Rocket Bowl, 9171 De Soto Ave., Chatsworth. The entry fee is $20 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Special Olympics. You can register as a 3-person team or sign up and be placed on an existing team. One Special Olympics Athlete will join each team as Team Captain. You can also sponsor a Special Olympics Athlete. Call (818) 342-0017 for details.